I used to use them all the time. They soften up the string bed a bit but I never noticed any dampening effect. I went to a leather shop and bought some scrap leather about 3/16" thick. I drew some lines with a ruler and cut out strips then took my cutters and cut them into the side I wanted. Does not take long to cut up 100s that way.

As someone else noted, you could just get an old leather belt, and cut out tiny pieces.

Click to expand...

thanks drak for the feedback...i guess i could use an old leather grip as well... sounds like they dont make much of a difference but i guess its worth a try. i guess they would add a few grams of weight to the throat as well.

I see no point in modern rackets. In the woodie days it was necessary, not any more.

Click to expand...

Power pads provide an extra cushion between the string and the frame and increase the radius of the string from one main string to the next. Is it possible that power pads could reduce poly sheer? What is the harm in trying?

If I did put power pads in the top of the frame to reduce sheer I would try to use a thinner piece of leather to prevent the string from rising up too high and hitting the court.

A long time ago when I first started stringing I bought some power pads thinking they would be leather. When I got them I was surprised to find they were hard plastic.

Click to expand...

I took some of these identical "power pads" off of a couple old wooden rackets that I was experimenting with. They're just hard plastic, and won't work very well on modern rackets. See how they need a flat, wide surface to sit on?

I took some of these identical "power pads" off of a couple old wooden rackets that I was experimenting with. They're just hard plastic, and won't work very well on modern rackets. See how they need a flat, wide surface to sit on?

Click to expand...

I don't think the plastic ones work on any racket. I went to the leather shop and got a few of the leather pads and still have what I took a picture of left. I still use the leather once in a while.

LMAO - Then I ask you, "Why do we have them?" Just threw mine in the trash.

Irvin

Click to expand...

Well....that's a good question. I think probably because two weeks after I throw them away, I'll find a use for them? In all honesty, I may have thrown them out long ago. I haven't seen them, but they may be in the bottom of one of my boxes.